Lid control for workboxes



De`c. 9, 1930. w. GILLooLY 1,784,518

LID CONTROL FOR woRKBoxEs Filed Jan. 25, 1929 2 sneets-sheef 1 Dec. 9,1930. w. GILLOOLY LID CONTROL FOR WORKBOXES 2 w W www@ S r 0 n H T e wwww @h G 2 @n u Nm Il @v1 www m www I@ Y H om Nm. w m, W f .HQ-.La

Patented Dec. 9, 1930 i i UNITED fSTNFl-sg` PAIENT I', OFFic-E j WILLIAMGILLOOLY, or STREAIOR, ILLINOIS, AsvsIoNoR A'To METAL s'iAMI'INGs 'coR-PORATION, or sTRnATOn, ILLINOIS, A OORPORAIIQN OF ILLINOIS LID CONTROLFOR WORIIBOXES Y,

l .Appiication inea January 23, 192e.' seriai No. 334,521. I

This invention relates to work boxes and portable cabinets and moreparticularly to sewing cabinets known in the trade` as Prs' oilla.sewing cabinets, and the invention has A particular reference tothe lidor coverv construction and mechanism for controlling the opening andclosing movement of the same. rlhe principal object of the invention isto provide means whereby the closing moveio `ment ofthe lids of a workbox, such as a Priscilla sewing cabinet, are `caused to `move from opento closed position in predetermined timed relation whereby a partcarried by one -of the lids can be readily brought into-over- 2.3lapping relation with-respect to the other lid when in closed position.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide lid controlling mechanismwhereby, when one lid is moved from open to closed 2o position, theother lid will automatically andl simultaneously be moved to its closedposition in predetermined timed relation to the closing movement ofthefirst lid.

@ther objects and advantages of the inven- A tionv will be understood byreference to the following specication and` accompanying drawings' inwhich I have illustrated a Priscilla sewingcabinet `having a selectedembodiment of lid construction and lid controlling mechanism such asvcontemplated by"- my invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is' a side elevation Veral arrangement of net.

showing the -gena `Priscilla sewing cabi in closed position as inFig. 1. Figf is a section similar to Fig. 2-but Fig. 2 is a section onthe line 2-i-2 Of 1 on an enlarged scale, the lids being shown Fig.V 7iS "a planliofthe parts shown in Fig. 3.,

Referring now to the drawings, vand more `particularly to Fig.1,a workbox in the -form of a Priscilla Y,sewing cabinet is shown as infcliiding a main body or receptacle portion 10 `whichviiiclude's endwalls 11 (and 12 and side walls lwand 1li (Fig. 2) which are joined inany suitablermaiiner and supported by a L suitable leg arrangement asindicated at 15,

,16 and 17. Lids 18 and 19 'hinge'dly con-` necte'd as shown at 2() and21 respectively' tothe opposite side walls 13 and v11i are provided. YThe inner edges of the lids 18 and 19,'

for all Ypractical purposes, abut against one another4 as indicated at22, and a handle 23 having end portions 24 and 25vrespectively issecured tofone of thelid parts, in the present instance 19,; Thelid part19 also carries a lockingdevice 26 which engages the opposite end -wallswhentheflid is in closed position so that the sewing cabinet can becarried about from place to place bymeans of the handle 23. Suitablemeans is provided for lunlocking'the locking `mechanism 26 when desired,and the end parts 24 and 25 of the handle overlap aninner marginalportion 27 of the lid 18, asclearly shown in Fig; 2, so

`thatfthe lid 18 is effectively locked in closed position when thelid`l9 is'in closed position. 'Because `of the overlapping arrangementbetweenzthe handle part andthe lid part'lS,

it will be understood that it isnecessary that Ythe lidfpart18 belclosed before the lid part 19 .isclosed so that'thelhandle ymay assumeits said overlapping position.V "I find it desirable to providemechanism for automati-- cally effecting closing' of the lid'l part 18before the lid vpart 19 reaches its closedl position, partly forthereason that if no such Figs. 4, 5 and `6 aresections similartomechanismis provided, scratching or mar- Cil SOl

ring of the-'finish of the cover part carrying the handle might occur byclosing the handle,

carrying lid first and then closing the other Y on top ofthe handle. Itis also a del net '-)rovided with mechanism whereby closing of one lidautomatically and incidentally etlects closing of the other.

For effecting closingot the lids in predetermined timed relation asabove indicated desirable, 1 provide a lever and link mechaf nism which,in the present instance, inclu-des linlrs 28 and 29 andy a lever 30. Thelever is provided intermediate its ends with a slot 3.1, through which aivot pin V32 passes and which-.iis secured to theadjacent end wall 11.The link 28 is pivotally connected at one end as shown at 33 to the lid18 and 'at'its other end to one end ofthe lever 30. The connectionbetween the link 28 and lever 30 is preferably a loose connection Awhichpermits relative sliding movement, besides pivotal movement between .thelink 28 and lever 30.l This loosemconnection provided by means of a slot311 in the end'oithe'linlr 28 and a pivot pin 35 carried by the lever130. The link" 29 is'pivotally connected as `smewn at 3 6to thelidv 19and at its other end to the other end of the lever 30 asv shown at 37.-Av'l`he`pivotal connection 37 between f he link 29 vand lever30 may beV ajixed pivotal connection'fwhich permits only relative pivotal movementbetween the connected parts.

. v vWhen the lids-are in open positiomas shown y in Fig. 3, thearrangement is suchthat the length a o-thearm'A oi' the lever 391s lessrthan the length b vot the varm B of the said lever. lhen the lids areto be moved to closed position, the lid-,19 is 'preferably `actuatedthrough the agency ot the handle v'25', th`e lid being swung upwardlyand inwardly labout its hingedconnection 21, thereby incidentallyswinging the lever 30 in counter-'clockwise direction, about itsintermediateV pivot 32 through the agency of thelinlr 29.

Such movementozt the lever 30 willgjoi course,

be imparted to the link 28, the lid 18 being thereby caused to moveupwardly and inwiardlytowards closed position. Because of the greaterlength of the llever arm part B 'as compared with the lever arm partA.it -will be seen that the pivot carried by the lever will be caused totravel( through an arc of greater length tliair'i'vill the pivot 31carried by the other end of the said lever. It

beingunderstood that the links'28V and 29 are pivoted tothe lidsy 18 and19 at substantially ,eq'ual distances from the pivots or Yhinges 2O and21, it'will be seen that the lid 18"will v'becaused to move towardsclosed position with a quicker movement than is imparted to the lid 19.Hence, the parts,in the course of` their ,closingwmovemenm may seeninthe positionshown ingFigfLl where- -in the lid 18 is almost verticallydisposed vwhile the lid 19 isdispo'sed at an angle of around`forty-"five degrees to the vertical.l

"'Wheiithe lid 18 is'caused tomove beyond closed after the other thepivot pin 35 and upperV end of the slotV 3e. The position of the partsafter such lia-llmg movement occurs 1s shown 1n Fig. 5.

Continued closing movement of the lid 19 causes the link 29 and lever 30tomove to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereby gravity ispermitted tocontinue'tlie closing movement of the lid 18 until'the same reaches itsfully closed position, as shown in Fig. 6. During the above closingmovement of the lid parts 1.8 and 19, the-,lever 30 swings about itsintermediate pivot 32, the same being located in the upper. end of theslot 31 asshown inFigs.3,4',5and6'. Y g

1 From the position shown inv Fig. 6, the lid 19 is permitted to move toclosed position as shown in 41l`ig32, because of the provision ot 32Yislocated.' By an inspection and comparison of Figs. G and 2, it will'beunderstood that continued closing movement vof the lid A19 causesthe'lever 30 to continue swinging about the pivotf32 and also to moveupwardy on the pivotv 32 until-the latter is disposed in the lower partof the slot 31 substantially as' shown in Fig. 2." During such movementof the lever, thepivotpin 35 moves upwardly and outwardlyso thatat theend of the movement, the pin 35 is disposed inl the outer end portion oithe slot 34 as shown in Fig. 2. .The lid'part 19 is thus caused to reachits closed position subsequent tothe closing ofthelid-part19 and the lidpart 18 is caused to move from open to closed position as an incidentThe slots 31 an'd35I provide means for'per-- mitting equahzmg of thetotal movement 1mparted tov thelids518 and 19 even thoughy theopposite'ends of thel-ever 30.to whichthe lids are :'connected, travelunequal distances.

Manitestly, if closing movement is initiallyV imparted to the lid 18instead of the` lid 19, the above described linkand lever arrangement fwill neverthelessl be effective to control the closingot the lids sothat the lid carrying the overlapping handle part will be Y lid reachesits fully closed'position.- 1 p l rllhe hinges 2O and 21 are ofsubstantially like construction, one being iightand the other left, eachcomprising hinge plates or` leaves 38 and 39, the latter beingbent to'gtover the upper edge oi the side walls 13 and l-l and' downwardly alongtheinside tace thereof` and also provided with a laterally projectingflange part Ll0.' The'parts 39 and to the closing movement of the lid ofthe slot 31m-which the intermediate piv- 4:0 si the hinges .serie asangle irene ier reen .forcing the connection between the side-and @edwalls The upper portion el f theliiiie'@ leaf Y39 which disposed acrossthe Vupper edge side wall,`constitntes a metallic nseat 4Afor receivingthe respective links 28V and 29 which thereby serve to support the lids18 and 19 in substantially horizontal open posibien as Show-11111 Fig#3.- The-.leverO ,is .pro-

videdat one end witha laterally projecting lange 42 which underliesthelower edge of the linli 28 so as to limit relativepivotal move'- mentbetween .the link 28 and leverO -iii the direction incident to openingmovement'of lthe lids. Thus., the lids 18 and 19 are rigidly supportediii their horizontal or openjposit-ion wherein they serve as table orshelf space. 4 i, l n s I am aware that changes may be made ink theconstruction and larrangement l,of levers and links as well as in .theproportions thereof without ,departing from 'the spirit `of my inventionas defined in thelfollowingclainis, `which should be construed asbroadly as possible consistent with the stateof the art.

AI claimras my invention:V i 1. In aportable cabinet of theclassdesCr-ibed, the l'combination of a receptacle in-v cluding side andend walls, a pair of lids for closing the top ofV said receptacle,.saidlids being hinged to oppositely ,disposed sidev walls of said receptacleso as to turn towards and from eachother to closed and open positionrespectively, ,said.lids, when iii closed position, having their inner.edges substantially abutting one another, a 4'carrying part overlappingadjacent inarginalportions ,of said lids and secured to one lof-saidYlids so ,as to be `movabletherewith, and means ,operatively connectingsaid lids for timing thel Closing movement thereof so as to cause closofthe lid carrying `said-part more slowly .than the rclosing ci' the otherlid, thereby permitting said carrying part to assume lits voverlappingposition rel'atve 'to the iirst closed lid.

2- .In vork bex .0f the Class zslesciibechth@ combinati@ 0f a' -bodvPart 1f1 -2111de1s .Side and end Walls., a pair of lids for .Closing thetop osaid bodypart, respectively hinged -to opposite sides thereof soias to swing towards Vand from each ,other to closed and `openpositions` respectively, ,means carried byQone of said lidsoverlappingthe other when in lclosed `position,means for locking in closedposi-tion,

the lid Carrying Said Overlapping Part, Wherevby said overlapping partis effective to lock the other lid in vclosed position, and inea-nsoperatively connecting said. lids for timing the .closingmovemeniiher'ensai mais including a lever pivotally mounted intermediate itsends, closer to one end than tothe 'other so' as to `provide lever`arins of,l different lengths on opposite sides of said intermediatepivot, whereby -nnequal travel is imparted to the Opposite ends ofsadlever when the Sam@ Y istilrned onv its privot, and inea-iisconnecting the oppositeends kof said lever" respectively 3, In portable.cabinet of) the classv describedthelcoinbination ofa receptacle in-.cluding side and lends walls, a pair of lids for closingrthe top ofsaidreceptacle,v said lids s beinghi-nged to oppositely'disposed side wallsof said receptacle so asto -tnin towards and 4from each other toclosedand open position respectively, said lids, when -iii closed 'position,having'their innerledges substantially abuttingoney another, a part`overlapping ad- -jacent marginal portions oit' said lids and securedtoone of said lids so as topbe movable therewith, means operativelyconnecting said lids for timingthe closingfniovelnent thereof so Aas tocause/,closing .ofthe lid carrying said part, after the closingof theother l lid, thereby permittingsaid part toassuine'its overlappingposition relative to the',y first closedY lid, said means including alever-pivotally mounted intermediate its end'sjclosei to -oneend than tothe other, whereby,jwhen i said: leverl v isrocked on I its pivot,unequal travel will be imparted `toits opposite ends, `and meansconnecting the opposite 'ends of said lever respectively tosaidflids, Y

, l. In asewing cabinet ofthe class de-,iy scribed, the4 c ombinationlofa; receptacle incliiding sid-eend end walls@ .pair of lids `tor closingthe'top of said receptacle, said lids beinghinged to oppositely-disposed,side -waglls s ofvsaid receptacle so as to tur-ii towards and f fromeachother to closedfand open position respectively, said lids, when inclosedposition, having their inner edges substantially abutting oneanother, a part overlapping adjacent marginal P Qtons of Said lids" andsecured to one'ofsaid lids so `as to be movable therewith, meansoperatively` connecting said lids for timing the closing movementthereofv so as to cause closing olf-the lid carryingsaid y part, afterthe closing @if the other lid, .thereby permitting saidpart to assumeits overlapping position relative to the irst closed lid, saidl meansincluding lever pivotally mounted intermediate its-ends closer tol one`end than to the other, whereby, when said lever is rocked on'its pivot,unequaltiiavel will beiinparted to its opposite ends, and, a pair oflinks connecting the opposite endsl of said lever respectively .to` saidlids, yone .ofy I ins YLio

walls of said receptacle sovastofturn towards andfrom each other toclosed' and, open position respectively, said lids, when vin closedposition, having their inner edges substantially abutting one another, apart overlapping adjacent marginal portions of said lids'and-secured toone of said lids so as to be movable therewith, means operativelyconnecting said lids Jfor timing the closing-movement thereof so as tocause closing ofjtlie'lid carrying said part, after the closing of thelother lid,thereby 'permitting said part to assume itsoverlappingposition relative to the iirst closed lid, saidmeansinclnding a' lever pivotally mounted intermediate its-ends 'closer tooney end than to the other, whereby,`when said lever isfrocked onA itspivot, unequal travel will be imparted to its opposite ends, and meansconnectin'gthe-` opposite 'ends of Vsaid lever respectivel'yltosaid`lids, the arrangement being provided withaneans for permittingequalizing of the total movement Aimparted to, said lids.

tially abutting one anotheig'a part `overlapping adjacent marginalportions of said lids and secured ktoone of saidlids so as to be-movable therewith, means operatively connecting said lids ior timingthe closing movement thereoi:l so as to cause closing of the lidcarrying said part, after the closing of tne Vother lid, therebypermitting said part to assume its overlapping position relative to ltheirstvclosed lid, said ineansfiiiclnding a :lever provided with anelongated 'slot intermediate its ends, a pivot. located in said slot andsecured to one of said end walls', and 'links `:connecting the oppositeends of said ilever respectivelyv to said lids.

7. In asewingcabinet ofthe V:class de- ;scribed,the lcombination of areceptacle including side and g end walls, a. pair of lidsifor closing.fthe top of said receptacle, said lids being hinged toV oppositelyLdisposedside walls of said receptacle so as to turntowards and fromeach other to closed and open position respectively, Vsaid lids, when inclosed position,'having their inneredges substantially abuttingk oneanother, a part'overlap- Vping adjacent marginal portions ofsaid lidsand secured to one of said lids'so as to be movable therewith, meansoperatively connecting said lids for timing the closing move- Amentthereof so as tokcause vclosing ofthe lid carrying said part, aftertheclosing of the other lid, thereby permitting said part to assume itsoverlapping positionrelative to the iirst closed lid',s'aid meansincluding a lever provided with an elongated slot intermediatevit-sends, a pivot located insaid slot and secured to one of said end walls,and links connecting the opposite ends of said lever respectively tosaid lids, one of said links being also longitudinally adjustablyconnected to said lever.

8. In a sewing cabinet ofthe class described, the combination ofreceptacle including side and endwalls, a pair of lidsior closing thel-top 'of said receptacle, said lids being hinged to oppositely disposedside walls 'oit said receptacle so as' to turn towards and fromeachother to closedand open position respectively, said lids,"whe n linclosed position, having their inner Iedges substantially abutting oneanother, ahandle overlapping adjacentinarginal portions of said lids andvsecuredto'one of said lids soasfto be movable therewith, meansoperatively connecting said lids or'timin'g the closing movementthereofso as to causeV closing o-the'lidcarrying said handle, after' theclosing ofV the other. lid, thereby permittingv said'ha'ndle to assumeits overlapping position relative to-y the first closed lid; said'meanscomprising a lever having an elongated slotinterm'ediate its ends, apivotlocated in said slot and secured to one of saidendwalls,and,linksconnectingthe`y` f opposite ends of said lever respectively tosaid lids, one of saidlinks' being provided with anvelongated slotthrough'which passes the pivot connecting such linkto said lever.

9. In a sewing `cabinet of the lclass described, the, combination of .a4receptacle'including'side and end walls, aypair of lids Jfor closing thetopv of'said receptacle, said lids-being hinged lto oppositely disposedside i walls of said receptacleso asy to turn towards and from eachother to closed and open positionere'spectively, said lids, when inclosed position, having their innerl edges substantially 'abuttingyoneanother, a part overlapping adjacent marginal portions of said lidsand secured to onev of said lids` sok as to be movable therewith, meansoperatively-connecting said lids for timing Q the# closingvmovementthereof so as tocause closingfof the lid carrying said part,after the closing" voi the other lid, therebypermitting said part .tolassume its overlapping position relative tothe first closed lid, saidmeans including valever provided withv an elongated 'slot interl.mediate its ends, a pivot located insaid slot' and secured to one ofsaid end walls, links 'connecting the opposite ends -of said` leverrespectively to said lids, said links being arranged to engage the upperedges of therev, spectively adjacent side walls when said lids areinopen position, and stop means for limitingrelative pivotal movementbetween said links in the opening. movement directions.

. 4-lOr In a sewing cabinet ofthe class described, the combination of areceptacle inizo IBO

tially abutting one another, a part overlapping adjacent marginalportions of said lids and secured to one ofsaid lids so as to be movabletherewith, means operatively conv,

necting said lids for timingthe closing movement thereof so as to causeclosing of the lid carrying said part, after the closing of the otherlid, thereby permitting said part to assume its overlapping position`relative to the iirst closed lid, said means including a leverVprovided with anelongated slot intermediate its ends, a. pivot locatedin said slot and secured to one of said end walls, links connecting theopposite ends of said lever respectively to said lids, and means forlimiting opening movement of said lids.

11.' In a sewing cabinet of the class described, the combination of areceptacle including side and end walls, a pair of lids for closing thetop of said receptacle, said lids being hinged to oppositely disposedside walls of said receptacle so as to turn towards and from each otherto closed and open position respectively, said lids, when in closedposition, having their inner edges substantially abutting one another, apart overlapping adjacent marginal portions of said lids and secured tooneof said lids so as to be movable therewith, means operativelyconnecting said lids for timing the closing movement thereof so as tocause closing of thek lid carrying said part more slowly than theclosing of the other lid, vthereby permitting said part to assume itsVoverlapping position relative to the lirst closed lid, said meansincluding a lever provided with an elongated slot intermediate its ends,a pivot located in said slot and secured to one of said end walls, linksconnecting the opposite ends of said lever respectively to said lids,said links being arranged to engage the upper edges of the respectivelyadjacent side walls when said lids are in open position, and stop meansfor limiting relative pivotal movement between said links in the openingmovement directions, comprising a laterally projecting flange formed onone end of said lever, integral therewith, Jfor engaging a part of theadjacent link. Y

12. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting meanscomprises a plurality of members having a lost motion connectiontherebetween.

13. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting meanscomprises a plurality of members of unequal length and having a lostmotion connection therebetween.

14. A device as defined in claim l, wherein said connecting meanscomprises a lever` pivoted intermediate its ends on a movable pivot, andlinks of unequal length pivoted to vsaid lids and to said lever.

15. A device as deiined in claim V1, where- 1n said connecting meanscomprises a lever pivot, and links of unequal length pivoted to saidlids and to said lever, one of said links having a lost motionconnection with said lever.

WILLIAM GILLOOLY. Y

pivoted intermediate its ends on a movabley

